This Signage Design Guide updates the previous Environmental Graphics Design Program Guide published in September 1996.

It provides guidelines for the design of signs and provides detailed information on the development of a signage system to assist VA veteran customers, visitors, and others as they approach the property, locate buildings, and proceed to functions inside.

The Signage Design Guide has been completely updated. These revisions are the result of regulatory changes, including UFAS, ADAG, and NFPA, expansion and growth of VA facilities, procedural changes, and practical knowledge gained from field experience. Complete new sections have been added to address the needs of VA facilities considering both small room renumbering programs and/ or a complete upgrade of their existing signage. These sections inform program officials, planners, and designers how to identify the need for a signage program and steps on interviewing and selecting an environmental graphics design firm. It also includes an in depth section on parking lots and parking structures. The following are highlights in both the updated sections and the newly added sections:

• Updates to facility names on site identificationsigns, including consolidated Medical Centers, Congressionally named facilities, combined VHA and VBA facilities, outpatient clinics, community based outpatient clinics, and VBA regional offices;

• Special sub-sections devoted to National Cemetery signs;

• Signage related to a HopTel;

• Various interior and exterior sign types and their specifications, construction, and installation guidelines;

• Expanded Code & Life Safety signs section that includes a pictorial for installation of stairwell signs and other associated signs;

• Specialty signs that include freestanding signs for display of various information, card and fileholders, and door knob signs for multipurpose uses;

• Examples of marquee signs that incorporate electronic messages;

• Expanded construction details for exterior signs;

• A new section, “Parking Lots and Parking Structures”. This section includes signs, details, construction, and installation specifications;

• A new section on room re-numbering with criteria and implementation on room re-numbering as well as offering suggestions on fixing “broken” room numbering systems;

• A new section titled, “Need a New Sign Program” that assists a facility in the project process from beginning to end, including all the steps from identifying the need for a new sign program through implementing the new program. Subsections include sample questions for interviewing a prospective Environmental Graphics Design Firm, rating factors, sample of Statement of Work, etc.; and

• Mandatory VA policy signs that contain specifictext, layout, size, placement, and location requirements that cannot be altered or changed;

This has been a collaborative effort, with extensive input from VAMC and VISN officials, VACO program officials including designers, fire and safety, security and law enforcement professionals, and other Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and Veterans BenefitsAdministration staff. This will be a living document that will be periodically updated. When significant changes do occur, “Design Alerts” will be e-mailed with the included changes.

Lloyd H. Siegel, FAIA Associate Chief Facilities Management Officer for Strategic Management August 2005

This program guide for the Department of Veterans Affairs has involved input and work from central VA, the three Administrations, VA Medical Centers, many departments, and individuals. Particular thanks are expressed to the following special participants during the preparation of this guide and acknowledges their very lasting deliberations, hard work, and thoughtful enthusiasm:

Ken Backer Health System Specialist VISN 5 VA Capitol Health Care Network

Keith Bednar Chief, Environmental Management Service VAMC Madison, Wisconsin

Mary Elizabeth Boyd Environmental Programs Service Strategic Management Office, FM

Orest Burdiak Lead Interior Designer VAMC West Side, Chicago, Illinois

Ken Carrico Project Manager Veterans Benefits Administration

Kevin Doyle Criminal Investigator VA Security and Law Enforcement

Ken Faulstich Safety & Fire Protection Engineer Veterans Health Administration

Keith Frost Security Specialist VA Security and Law Enforcement

Lewis Sinclair Architect National Cemetery Administration

Design Consultant Englund Designworks Inc. Pleasant Hill, California